Control mechanism for loom stop motions



Dec. 29, '1(936.

` J. P. COSTELLO CONTROL MEGHANISM FOR LOOM STOP MOTIONS Filed May 2, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 rzdenon JSepIz/I? 005223.14

Dec. 29, 1936.

J. P. COSTELLO CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LOOM STOP MOTIONS Filed May 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 29, 1936. J. P. COSTELLO v CONTROLMEGHANISM FOR LOOM STOP MOTIONS Filed May 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mzlezorx JONS @p PCOSZLeZZo Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATS PAT NT OFFICE CONTROL IWECSM FOR LOOM STOP Ii/EOTIONS Application May 2, 1933, Serial No. 6618,912

9 Claims.

My invention is an improved mechanism for controlling the operation of a loom or similar apparatus, and it is particularly designed to provide means for stopping the operation thereof upon the completion of the weaving of the number of picks which can be woven from a cop of known length. The shuttle is stopped in proper position for the resumption of Weaving upon the insertion of a fresh bobbin or cop and the control mechanism is reset without any special attention on the part of the weaver, who may also reverse the motion to pick back or unWeave a defectively woven fabric section without interfering with the proper functioning of the stop mechanism upon exhaustion of the yarn on the bobbin in use.

By my improvements, a yardage of yarn sufficient for a number of picks of predetermined length to weave a fabric of desired width may be wound upon a bobbin, and the loom stopped upon or immediately before the substantial exhaustion of the yarn, with avoidance of defects in the fabric and of wastage of yarn and time. The mechanism is readily adjustable to permit the use of various lengths of yarn on a bobbin or the weaving of fabrics of different widths, and may be so set as to stop the loom when the shuttle is in a desired box of the loom and just prior to the exhaustion of the yarn thereon.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, an adjustable measurer or pick counter is provided movable in synchronism with the throws of the shuttle and at a predetermined point in its movement permits the actuation of the loom control lever when the yarn retained on the bobbin is insufficient to complete another pair of picks.

My invention is particularly applicable to a usual form of loom having its stop motion, such as a belt shifter or electric switch, operable by a handle or lever. In accordance with my improvements, this handle or lever is shifted by an arm or bracket carried by the loom frame and having thereon an oscillatory member, such as a dagger, which, when engaged by a loom member, such as a part of the lay, operates the arm or bracket to shift the control lever or handle.

The movement of the loom control lever or handle to the go position moves the oscillatory member or dagger out of the path of the actuating lay member and latches the dagger in such disengaging position. 'Ihe latching mechanism is tripped to permit the lay member to engage the oscillatory member on the bracket under control of a belt operable in synchronism with the loom shuttle mechanism or the beat of the loom. The belt may be varied in length and preferably consists of an endless sprocket chain movable one link for each complete reciprocation of the shuttle. The control of the latching mechanism by the belt is preferably effected through a circuit containing an electromagnet for tripping the latching mechanism, the circuit being opened or closed by a contact carried on or operable by the chain.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration of a preferred embodiment of my improvements applied to a conventional double shuttle loom.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of a double plush loom having my improvements applied thereto, with the parts in the position occupied when the loom is at rest; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in the position occupied when the loom is in motion; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of mechanism comprised in my improvements detached from the loom and in the position shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view of a worm and screw device employed in the mechanism; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of structure shown in previous gures, and Fig. 6 is a View partially in section and partially in top plan of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improvements are applied to a usual type of double shuttle loom suitable for the weaving of plush. My improvements are, however, also applicable to other types of looms and to other mechanisms.

In the embodiment of my improvements illustrated in the drawings, a main shaft I has fixed thereon a worm 2 by a pawl 5I pivoted on the hub 45 of the worm 2 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which meshes with and rotates a worm gear 3 `fixed to the shaft 4 journalled in the adjustable brackets 5 and 6. The ratchet 50' is integral with the hub 46 and during forward weaving of the loom the pawl 53', pivoted on a fixed element of the loom, will idle over it as the shaft I turns. If the loom is reversed, the pawl 5I' will disengage and release the worm from the shaft, whereas pawl 53' will prevent rearward rotation of the worm 2. Thus it is seen thatv the measuring device is rendered inoperative during unvveaving to correct weaving defects. A collar 52' is positioned on the shaft I by a set screw to prevent axial movement of the clutch members. 'I'he upper end of the shaft 4 has fixed thereto a worm 1 which meshes with and rotates the worm wheel 8 xed on the transverse shaft 9. A sprocket I 0, fixed on the shaft 9, has looped thereon an endless sprocket chain II composed of links which may be readily attached and detached to vary the length of the chain loop.

A contact `I2 is xed to the chain II and is adapted for engagement with a contact member I3 mounted upon an insulating block I4 on ,a frame member of the loom. The engagement of the contact I2 with the contact -I3 closesY a circuit comprising a source of electricity, such as the battery I5, a conductor I6 connecting the battery with the contact I2 through the sprocket I0,

and chain l I, and a conductor I1 connecting the Y contact I3 with the coil of an electromagnet or solenoid I8, which has its other end connected by a conductor I9 with the battery I5.

The rotation of ,the :sprocket wheel I Il is so synchronized with Vthe rotation of the shaft I thatthe chain II moves a distance equal to one link Afor each complete throw of the shuttles back and forth, consequently the circuit is closed b-y the engagement ofthe contact I2 with the contact I3 only when the shuttles are in their boxes at the righthand or operating side of the machine and after twice as many picks have been Woven as there are links in the chain.

A usual type of loom stop motionsuch as a switch or belt shifter (not shown) is controlled by the yspring lever 20 fixed to the loom frame. The upper portion of the lever 20 is provided with a handle `2I and ismovable in a frame slot 22 having a widened portion 23 forming a notch in which the lever is engaged in the go position. W'he'n the lever is"disengaged from the notch 23, it springs by its own elasticity to they position shown in Fig. 1 thereby operating a belt shifter, switch or other stop motion to stop the loom.

The lever 2I maybe disengaged from the notch 23 manually or by the action of an arm or bracket 24 carried by and rocking on the frame. The arm orbracket 24 is operable, to disengage the lever 20 fromthe notch 23, Yby a reciprocable member 25 of the loom, such as a sword or motion operated in synchronism with the shuttle carrier or lay. The member 25 rocks the arm 24 when the step member 26 thereof (Figs.V 1 and 3) comes into contactiwith ther end of the arm or dagger 21 of the'shaft 28." Theshaft 28 is journalled in bearings 29 of the bracket 24 and has xed thereon a latch member 39 (Fig. 3) cooperating with a latch member or lever 3| pivoted on the bracket 2.4. Theend 32 lof the lever 3l is so counter- Weighted that it normally rocks the latch or lever and shaft 28 to elevate the Vend of the dagger 21 above the path of the step member 26.

' the latch 30.

` 'When,' however, the circuit of the solenoid coil I8 is closed by the engagement of the contact I2 with the contactI I3 the armature 33 is elevatedand acts through the bearing 34 thereon against the pin 35'xed to the end 32 of the lever 3|' and rocks the latter out of engagement with The end of the dagger 21 thereupon fdrops into position for engagement by the Step V26 of the sword 25 and rocks the bracket 24 to disengage the lever 29 from the notch 23. The lever23 thereupon springs to its 01T position and causes the stop motion to stop the loom.

Whenthe lever 26 is again moved by its handle 2I to the right (Figs. 1 and 3) to vplace the stop mechanismv in the go position, it shifts the arm or bracket 24 away from the slot 22 and the pin 36 on the lever 29 depresses the arm 31 projecting from the crank arm 38 of the shaft 39 journalled in bearings 40 of the bracket 24. The shaft 39 has xed thereto an arm 4I from which depends a hooked link 42 looped over the pin 43 on the arm 44 of the latch 30. The rocking of the shaft 39 acts through the parts to elevate the latch 30.

The rocking of latch 30 acts through the shaft 28 to elevate the arm 21 out of the path of the reciprocating step 26 and as soon as the contact I2 disengages from the contact I3 the latch 3| engages the latch 30 and the loom continues to run until-the stop lever is again actuated by the mechanism described or manually. k'I'he manual operation of the lever 26 to the "off position has no effect upon the automatic control mechanism.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters,

the shaft 4' has loosely thereon a sleeve 46 having a Worm screw portion 41 engaging a worm wheel 48 on a pintle 49; the sleeve 46 also having fixed thereto a notched collar 50 for engagement in one direction of rotation of the shaft 4 vby a spring biased pawl 5I in a sleeve 52 secured to the shaft 4. yA pawl 53 supported on a stationary part of the frame and positioned by ari-element 54 cooperates with lnotches 55 in the `side'of the sleeve WhenY the shaft 4 rotates in'one direction, the pawl 5I drives the'worm screw 41lthrough the collar 50; the pawl 5I in this direction of rrotation `slipping over its notches. In the reversel or unweaving direction of rotation of the shaft 4', thepawl 5I slips over its notches in the s1eeve'50 which is held against reverse rotation by the pawl 53, thus preventing deductions from acount made while the sleeve 46 is rotating in the forward or Weaving direction.

Having.V describedV my invention, I Vclaim- 1. In .combination on a loom, a shuttle containing .ameasured weft supply package, mechanism for effecting the stoppage of thefloom upon` or just before the exhaustionof the predetermined` length `of weft fromy the supply package, comprising a sprocket, a rotatable shaft carrying said Y Sprocket, means comprising a pair of oppositely acting latch members for rotating said shaft in synchronism with the beat-up operation of the loom upon the movement of the loom in weaving', said means permitting movement of said loomin :unweaving'without affecting movement of said shaft, an endless sprocketchain of variable length mounted on said sprocket and `movable'thereby one complete length of theehain during the laying of the predetermined length of weft in a given number of beat-up operations of the loom, a knock-off device operable. by said chainffor'effecting the stoppage of the'loom, a starting handle, and means operable by the movement ofv said starting handle to runningV position for automatically resetting said knock-off` device.

2. In combination on a loom having a weft supply package` of a predetermined measured length, a loom stop motion operating to stop the loom upon or just before the exhaustion of the measured length of weft from the-supply package, regardless of the number of pick outs made during the Weaving in of said weft supply package, comprising a movable membelga device controlling the stopping of the s loom andv movable into and out of the path of said member, means comprising anendless measuring belt for controlling themovement. of said device and lmeans operable in synchronism with the beat-up of the loom for advancing.'saidbeltupon the operation of said loom for weaving, means comprising a pair of oppositely acting latch members for advancing said endless belt when the loom is weaving but which is rendered inoperative when the loom is reversed for picking out or unweaving.

3. In combination on a loom having a weft supply package of a predetermined measured length, a loom stop motion operating to stop the loom upon or just before the exhaustion of the measured length of weft from the supply package, regardless of the number of pick-outs made during the weaving in of said weft supply package, comprising a movable member, a belt, a device controlling the stopping of the loom and movable into and out of the path of said member, a circuit containing an electro-magnet, a contact operable by said belt for controlling said circuit, latching mechanism operable by the electro-magnet of said circuit, a dagger controlled by said latching mechanism, an arm operable by said dagger, a shipper handle operable by said arm, and means operable by said shipper handle for moving said dagger and setting said latching mechanism upon movement of the handle toward starting position, and means comprising two oppositely acting latch members for advancing said belt when the loom is weaving but which is rendered inoperative when the loom is reversed for picking out or unweaving.

4. In combination on a loom having a weft supply package of a predetermined measured length, a loom stop ymotion operating to stop the loom upon or just before the exhaustion of the measured length of weft from the supply package, regardless of the number of pick-outs made during the weaving in of said weft supply package, comprising a movable member, a movable contact, a device controlling the stopping of the loom and movable into and out of the path of said member, means comprising an electric circuit controlled by the movable Contact for controlling the movement of said device and means operable in timed relationship with the laying and beat-up of the weft lengths for advancing said movable contact upon the operation of said loom for weaving, actuating means comprising two oppositely acting latch members for the said advancing means, said actuating means being inoperative when the loom is reversed so as to maintain the timed relationship between the advancing means and the measured length of weft.

5. In a loom having a loom stop motion and a weft supply package containing a measured length of weft, mechanism for controlling said loom stop motion upon or just before the exhaustion of the measured length of weft from the weft supply package regardless of the number of pickouts made during the weaving in of said weft supply package and comprising an endless member operable in a rotatablecycle and in timed relationship with the loom stop mechanism during forward weaving, means comprising two 0ppositely acting latch members for rotating said member during the running of the loom for forward Weaving and for maintaining the timed relationship between its rotational cycle and the measured length of weft regardless of pickouts or unweaving before exhaustion of the weft package, said last named means being operated during both the weaving and unweaving movements of said loom but operating said endless member only during the weaving movements of said loom.

6. In combination on a loom, a moving loom part, a shuttle containing a measured weft supply, means for controlling a loom stop motion upon or just before the exhaustion of the predetermined length of Weft, which comprises an endless Weft-counting device for counting the picks of Weft laid, a one-Way clutch device having a pair of oppositely acting latching members, driven from the moving loom part, and mechanism controlled by said counting device for stopping the loom, said moving loom part being operable in the reverse direction without operating said endless weft counting device.

7. In combination on a loom, a moving loom part, a shuttle containing a measured weft supply, means for controlling a loom stop motion upon or just before the exhaustion of the predetermined length of weft, which comprises an endless weft-counting device for counting the picks of weft laid, a one-way clutch device, having a pair of oppositely acting latching members, driven through reduction gears from the moving loom part, and mechanism controlled by said weft-counting device for stopping the loom, said moving loom member being operable in the reverse direction without operating said endless measuring device.

8. In combination on a loom, a moving loom part, a shuttle containing a measured weft supply, means for controlling a loom stop motion upon or just before the exhaustion of the predetermined length of weft, which comprises an endless weft counting device for counting the picks of weft laid, a one-way clutch device, having a worm gear and a pair of oppositely acting latching members,driven through reduction gears from the moving loom part, and mechanism controlled by said counting device for stopping the loom, said moving loom part being operable in the reverse direction Without operating said endless weft-counting device.

9. In combination on a loom having a weft supply package of a predetermined measured length, an endless belt; a loom stop motion operating to stop the loom upon or just before the exhaustion of the measured length of weft from the supply package, regardless of the number of pick-outs made during the weaving in of said weft supply package, comprising a movable member, a device controlling the stopping of the loom and movable into and out of the path of said member, a circuit containing an electromagnet, a contact having a rotational cycle and movable by said endless belt for controlling said circuit, and a one-way clutch mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely acting latch members for driving the endless belt during forward Weaving but which maintains the timed relationship of the rotational cycle of the contact and the measured weft during unweaving.

JOSEPH P. COSTELLO. 

